Dental crowns are a cosmetic treatment for teeth which involves encasing your own tooth with a cap to restore or improve its shape, size, strength and appearance.
Crowns can be made of a variety of different materials and new materials are being introduced all the time.
Here are some of the most popular options:
Porcelain bonded to precious or non-precious metal: this is what most crowns are made from. A precious or non-precious metal base is made and then porcelain is applied in layers over it.
Full porcelain crowns, these crowns are made entirely out of porcelain and are not as strong as bonded crowns, but they can look very natural and are most often used for front teeth.
Ceramic crowns are metal free. They provide the strength of a bonded crown and the appearance of a porcelain crown. This makes them suitable for use in all areas of the mouth.
Gold crowns were very popular but are less popular today as people tend to want a more natural look.
What are Dental Crowns for?
- Restoring a broken tooth, or teeth that have been worn down
- Holding a dental bridge in place
- Covering a dental implant
- Covering and supporting a tooth with a large filling
- Protecting a weak tooth from breaking or to hold parts of a cracked tooth together
- Improving the appearance of your smile
- During your first visit the dentist will assess your mouth, ask about what results you would like to see from treatment and discuss your options and whether a crown is the best treatment for you.
- Once you’ve decided on a crown you will need to return to the dentist for the tooth or teeth to be prepared for the crown. This involves removing the majority of the outer surface of the tooth, leaving a strong core for the crown to be attached to. Once the tooth is shaped the dentist will take a mould of the prepared tooth, which will be passed onto the dental technician so the crown can be made. Before you leave you will be fitted with a temporary crown while your permanent version is made.
- On your third visit your permanent crown will be fitted by bonding the crown to your own tooth using special cement that is hardened with a specialist light.
